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"To live in a world where truth matters and justice - however late - really happens, that world would be heaven enough for us all." -- Rubin "Hurricane" Carter
The first fight I watched on television with my father and brothers was when Rubin knocked out welterweight champion Emile Griffith in the first round on December 20, 1963. I have my old scrapbook of articles on his boxing career from back then. A few years later, a newspaper report said he had been convicted of a triple murder.
At age 13, the second biggest boxing magazine featured an article -- complete with 13 pictures -- about my boxing. About the same time, a NYC news station did a story that raised doubt about the Hurricane's legal case. So I wrote to him at a New Jersey prison, saying I had decided to get him released from prison. I also noted that upon release, I'd be willing to let him manage my ring career.
How could he refuse such a generous offer? A few weeks later, I got the first of many letters from Rubin. This was before the movement to release him, led by Muhammad Ali and Bob Dylan. So materials about his case were scarce. Thank goodness for public libraries.
In time, I had my tenth grade class communicating with Rubin through letters and cassette tapes. We started making plans for the teacher and a few of us students to visit him. But two things prevented that: the teacher was fired for letting the class communicate with a convicted triple murderer, and the new support from Ali was frowned upon by the prison administration.
In letters, Rubin told me that the prison was becoming tense. He had been in a prison riot before -- and was credited with saving the lives of a couple guards. So, with all the insight of a young teenaged boy, I urged him to take control and prevent violence. Rubin told my brother that this prompted him to come out of self-imposed isolation, and run for the presidency of the inmate council.
He won. And soon lawyers, college faculty, politicians, and some media were going to the prison to meet with Rubin. I have a stack of the communications between them and Rubin. I remember when, after talking to the leaders of prison gangs, he convinced them to assist him in getting inmates to hand in weapons.
In response, the administration followed Princeton University's Gresham Sykes' 1958 study of New Jersey's prisons. In it, Sykes recommended that inmates considered "leaders" be move to the Vroom Psychiatric Building for the "criminally insane." He actually wrote that this was similar to when "troublesome slaves" were sent to the deep south. Hence, Rubin was moved to Vroom, where he was held until a federal judge released him. Rubin was awarded $2500 in compensation for this, money that went to hiring a detective to investigate the murders he had been falsely convicted of.
Eventually, Rubin told me to quit boxing and go to college. This was at the time when Rubin was in what we called his "Buddha phase." Other than his lawyer, I was one of two people he communicated with. I joined the progressive frat in college, and we were planning to play the republican frat in a fundraising basketball game. The winning team would pick a charity for the money to go to. We picked Rubin's legal defense.
The morning of the game, I went to my sociology class. The teacher started class by saying, "We have a celebrity in class today." He explained that the FBI had visited the deans, and told them to shut the game down. The doors to the gym were locked that evening, so I had to climb through a window to get in and open it up. We won, of course, and sent the money to Rubin's lawyer.
From isolation, I got a series of amazing letters from Rubin. He was convinced he would die in prison. Some of those lettrs were 40+ pages. This was before te Canadians became involved with Rubin. I would continue my small investigation. I'd hear from the DA who convicted Rubin, the judge that oversaw the second trial, the FBI, and I'd talk to the second cop who arrived at the murder scene, as well as a guy who had been in the bar before the murders.
Once the case was brought to federal court, his conviction was overturned. We got together a few times. I went to Canada, and he came here. I liked that he would introduce me to university audiences, saying I saved his life when he was at his lowest point. Usually, we talked on the telephone about such things as flower gardening or when he was meeting with Nelson Mandela.
I worked with Rubin on contributing a chapter to a college professor's book on the power of forgiveness. We talked late at night when he was writing his second autobiography. He had me write the press review of the book, and I was planning on going on the book tour with him until his being in an auto wreck ended that. I was able to introduce Rubin to most of my co-workers from the mental health clinic, and to my nephews and their friends. And the best thing was my children's relationship with their "Uncle Rubin."
I've said all of the above, to say this: as an old man, I have great respect for the American justice system. I am very aware of its many imperfections. Still, in the years between 2017 to 2021, when that system was under attack by the felon and his cult, I told my sister Malaise that the institution would hold. And it did, though perhaps imperfectly.
But if the felon somehow wins in November, the institutions of our justice system willbe utterly destroyed, from local courts to the USSC. That thought should motivate each one of us every day between now and election day to work very hard to re-elect President biden, and every Democrat running in our state and local contests.
Thank you to anyone who may have read this far.
H2O Man
![](du4img/smicon-reply-new.gif)
Thanks!!
malaise
(274,647 posts)![](/emoticons/applause.gif)
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Rubin wasn't usually interested in "politics." But I remember how encouraged he was when a young US Senator named Obama was elected president. He thought that the US might have reached a higher level of maturity, and that the potential for progress was real.Of course, the republican to President Obama concerned him, as he recognized that was the soil from which hatreds would grow.
malaise
(274,647 posts)To Obama and Hillary.
So far the institutions are holding and Im betting my life on Jack Smith finally taking down the CONvicted Felin and his cabal.
H2O Man
(74,696 posts)Obama and Clinton energized the racist, sexist republicans to crawl out from under their rocks. We need to lift those rocks, and slam them down on the maga cult members, to keep them in their proper place.
Easterncedar
(2,879 posts)Really truly thank you. Feeling down is a lapse I too often allow myself. This post was the kick I needed today to get me up and out. You are the best.
H2O Man
(74,696 posts)I suspect that we all have such lapses. I know that there are times when I find it very hard to believe the destructive path that the maga cult seeks to take our country down. I have to remind myself of Rubin's saying they are unconscious machines, with no more awareness of what they are doing than is a lawn mower. And his teaching that we must forgive them for their behaviors.
At the same time -- and I base this on his telling me about when he met then governor George W. Bush -- that all good people must work to prevent the felon from re-taking office. He told me that when he met with W about a capital punishment case, that George was "giddy" about killing people. He said Bush was the coldest human being he ever met, including in prison. I remember a phone conversation where he asked me if I knew what the W per his middle name stood for? "Death," he answered his own question. "George Death Bush gets aroused by killing people."
Easterncedar
(2,879 posts)Horrifying.
H2O Man
(74,696 posts)as a war criminal, along with Cheney and others in his administration. I find it offensive that any Democrat would treat him with respect. I will add that while I disagree with Liz Cheney one almost everything, I respect her for standing up for the rule of law per January 6. That's more than W or her father have done.
Easterncedar
(2,879 posts)Is a screaming indictment of American exceptionalism. We are all complicit
H2O Man
(74,696 posts)As citizens, when we see injustice, it is our duty to serve as gadflies in the ointment. (I intend this in the context of Plato's quote of Socrates in "Apology."
malaise
(274,647 posts)Rec
yorkster
(2,125 posts)What a painful, powerful story. I only knew the outlines...what a generous spirit he had.
Rubin was a unique character. I wish he had lived long enough to learn that the actual gunman -- who he was accused of being -- confessed to the terrible crime on his death bed.
I started thinking about Rubin this morning, while taking the dog for a walk. There are lots of beautiful flowers blooming -- in my flower gardens and in the fields. I loved our late night talks about flowers -- though Rubin never cared to learn their names. Just colors. And his saying, "Pat, you need to get up here and see the blue ones! They are beautiful!" By the time I was returning to the house, and thinking about one of the trials I'm watching, I decided to write this essay.
yorkster
(2,125 posts)H2O Man
(74,696 posts)I appreciate that!
StarryNite
(10,329 posts)Personal accounts such as yours can have a big impact on people.
H2O Man
(74,696 posts)It sure had a huge impact on me! As a young teen, I thought the justice system was corrupt. But by the time I became an adult I realized that it only takes one or two corrupt people to create an injustice. As an old man, I recognize that the system itself can be self-correcting. There are outstanding lawyers and judges that I have great respect for. And though at times imperfect, our system is worth fighting for.
MMBeilis
(269 posts)It was a bit of fun for me writing this up this morning. I will say I miss Rubin, but am mighty happy I knew him!
Mblaze
(335 posts)I also used to watch boxing with my Dad and unfortunately watched Emile Griffith kill my favorite at the time, Benny "Kid" Paret in the ring. I blame it on the referee for not stopping it and felt really bad for Mr. Griffith. It must have been horrible. After that, I pretty much stopped watching boxing on TV until Ali beat Liston (I listened to that on the radio) and became the most identifiable person in the world.
I had the pleasure of meeting Emile numerous times over the years. My favorite of those was when he sat with my brother & I ringside at the second Ali vs Frazier fight. He had been friends with Rubin both before and after their fight, and was among those who knew Rubin never shot anyone.
Goldstein certainly failed horribly that night. Equally at fault was Benny's manager/ corner. Gene Fullmer had inflicted a severe beating on Paret just a few months earlier, and "Kid" should not have been fighting anyone. I remember when Benny died, his manger said, "Shit. Now I have to find another fighter."
Boxers, of course, don't always think of their own safety. I remember as a teenager, after fighting on a card in Syracuse, a friend of my brothers & I died. I remember thinking, "Poor Frank," but never recognizing how dangerous the great sport can be.
Mblaze
(335 posts)Gene Fullmer was a dynamo. I'm so pleased that you worked so hard on behalf of Mr. Carter. Hopefully we can help bring some relief for Leonard Pelletier.
Saoirse9
(3,758 posts)I am moving to Ireland.
But
The felon will NOT win in November. So I will just have to visit there.
Meanwhile I am donating donating donating. Every Democrat who is running hits me up for money. And if I think they can win I am donating.
And I am praying.
I am confident that President Biden will win by about 8 million votes ..... although I reserve the right to increase that number before the election. I think that Joe will say things to upset the felon in the debate, increasing the rate of the felon's melt-down. And I consider that justice, though not the exact type that Mr. Smith will deliver.
Saoirse9
(3,758 posts)They make me too nervous. But I will watch once it is over. I am confident Biden will shame the orange menace until he turns red.
CaptainTruth
(7,068 posts)It seems like you have materials that should be in an official archive, or a museum, somewhere, they're a part of history.
I understand you might consider them personal & certainly respect your decision if you want to keep them private. It seems like they could, for example, offer incredible insight for anyone studying his life or writing about it.
Thank you for sharing that post!
H2O Man
(74,696 posts)Now that both Rubin and his co-defendant are gone, as are the actual rwo gunmen, I am half-tempted to write a book about the case. There is a lot of misinformation and disinformation out there, especially on the internet For example, one journalist has a web site that "proves" Carter was guilty, and includes some fake documents. I know the guy believed they were real, but I can easily expose that they are false.
For but one example, the site reports that a polygrapher deemed Rubin and John were guilty. Yet I have copies of his reports on four people he tested in the first 24 hours after the murders. These included John and Rubin. He thought John had no involvement; that Rubin was not involved, but may have had suspicions of who the gunmen were. The other two he recognized were the actual gunmen, and one of those two was among the four people held in jail during the first six weeks after the crime.
CaptainTruth
(7,068 posts)I think it would interesting if you wrote it from your own POV, writing about Hurricane as the person you knew.
As a reader (or viewer) I find it much more interesting when the story is more personal, told by someone who actually knew the subject, as opposed to someone who does a bunch of research & compiles what other people have said.
Thats an order 😀
H2O Man
(74,696 posts)give me the exact same order. Must be some type of coincidence, though I do not believe coincidence exists.
😀
calimary
(83,367 posts)A keeper for sure! Rubin Hurricane Carter!
Gonna start one of the next Call to Action emails with it. MAYBE the one following g the GOP convention
H2O Man
(74,696 posts)We need to crush the felon and his cult. I'm confident that we will.
calimary
(83,367 posts)Elessar Zappa
(15,095 posts)Yes, Biden must win. I was recently encouraged by a report that Biden has moved up several points among independents since Trump was convicted.
H2O Man
(74,696 posts)I think that on Monday, we will see upward movement in the polls, at the same rate the felon's numbers drop. And this trend will continue up to July 11. We are in a good position for the presidential election, in my opinion.
Warpy
(112,689 posts)One thing I know about bad guys is that if they're acquitted on technicalities or able to con a parole board into an early release, they'll reoffend and be right back in prison within a couple of years.
This is something Russia is finding out in spades, all the guys Prigozhin recruited into Wagner and survived the front are now back in Russia and their crime rate is skyrocketing, and these are the worst of the worst crimes you can imagine.
Anyone released over doubt over his conviction and who isn't a bad guy is less likely to end up back in prison. Part of the redemption process is forgiveness.
Thanks for this story.
H2O Man
(74,696 posts)Thank you.
I've been watching parts of the Young Thug trial. I don't have any real opinion on if those charged are guilty or not guilty. I'm watching it more for some of the characters involved, and thinking of something that both Malcolm X and Rubin spoke of -- the amount of human potential that is wasted there.
A prosecution witness Kenneth "Lil' Woody" copeland is a good example. The police and prosecution have put him firmly in a no-win situation. When some gang members learned he was talking to police a few years back, they shot a him, his girlfriend, and their infant. And after he was sworn in as a witness in the trial, and pleaded the 5th, the judge held an ex parte hearing with police, prosecutors, and the defendant. That type of thing should be cause for either the judge being removed, or even a mistrial declared.
I'm not naive enough to think Woody is not a criminal. But I understand that kids have to be reached before a certain age usually, if they are going to be directed in the right direction. And that for many inner city kids from poor homes and neighborhoods, crime appears the best way to make a living. Woody is intelligent in ways, and I think it's a shame there weren't serious interventions when he was a youth.
I remember the potential for LBJ's "War on Poverty" having so much potential. As Big George Foreman has said, that was at a time the country cared about the poor. Of course, the war in Vietnam drained much of the money President Johnson had hoped to invest at home, and Nixon made the effort into a bureacratic, top-down waste.
The only way that we can address this -- and it will take generations -- is to have more Democrats in office.
onecaliberal
(34,931 posts)H2O Man
(74,696 posts)multigraincracker
(33,549 posts)Have Dylans Hurricane on my play list and think of him often. How are you fixed for blades always pops up in my head. Thanks.
H2O Man
(74,696 posts)A have a number of recordings of it. Bob did add the music, but the late poet of Colgate, Jacques Levy, wrote the lyrics. I think the violen is outstanding!
Bundbuster
(4,018 posts)After watching all possible televised boxing matches in the 1950's and 1960's, including the fatal 1962 Griffith-Paret fight, I clearly remember Rubin's 1966 arrest and conviction, seeing it as yet another racist railroading and imprisoning of an urban Black man. That was my "activist & revolutionary" period, in the same year which saw Ali stripped and punished for his conscientious stand against the Vietnam War.
Although we've grown in wisdom since those intense, often confusing times, I fear that I will never attain the state of peace and empathy which would allow me to "forgive them for their behaviors" - the "unconscious machines" like GW Bush, Cheney, tRump, and the MAGA cult hordes seeking the death of democracy. If Rubin could forgive those criminals, then he was truly the best among us.
Thank you as always, H2O Man, for your inspiring enlightenment and reflection.
*The movie The Hurricane is available now on Amazon Prime.
H2O Man
(74,696 posts)Back when Sonny Liston trained in the same Philly gym as Rubin, they laughed about their "scary black men" reputations. Sonny, of course, tried to put that behind him. But as you know, the media was not about to let that happen. There were articles that made Liston seem other than human. (A young contender named Cassius at the time named the pair "the big, ugly bear," and "the little ugly bear." Rubin, who beat six of Clay's sparring partners, couldn't stand the future champ, though Liston thought he was hilarious.)
In his later years, Rubin understood that he helped create the intimidating reputation he had, though he was focused on filling seats at his fights. It wasn't just the infamous Saturday Evening Post article, where a friend told reporters that Carter had suggested taking guns to the next inner city riot to kill police before they killed him -- one of several errors in the movie, which although it tells a beautiful story with a lot of truth in it, it is not a documentary. The movie, which I love, was largely made to pay the Canadians back for what they invested in his case.And it was the lawyers, not the Canadians that got Rubin cleared and released.
I have other rare articles from sports mafazines (rather than just boxing magazines) where Rubin delighted in sounding like the last person on earth one would want to fight. But he was young at the time, younger than my youngest daughter is. She has a tatoo -- in Rubin's handwriting -- of a note he sent her when she was little. Those two were a lot of laughs when togethe.
When Rubin spoke to a packed audience at Binghamton University, he was telling about how mad he was when he first was incarcerated in prison after the trial. He said he was as angry "as a male grizzly bear in mating season, who ain't getting any." The crowd laughed. Then next thing they heard was my 4-year old daughter yelling at her 7-year old sister about the arm rest between them. I am convinced that everyone within ten miles heard her.
"That's it" Rubin said loudly. "That's exactly how mad I was!" Then he introduced my daughters and I to the audience.
rubbersole
(7,863 posts)Thanks for posting.
Martin Eden
(13,176 posts)H2O Man, you are a fine example and inspiration to us all.
H2O Man
(74,696 posts)I was watching some coverage of a trial in MA yesterday. A young fellow who was bringing national attention to what he thought was an injustice on his podcast served 90 days in jail -- because he was "intimidating" witnesses by asking questions. He was sitting with journalists at the trial (after being released), and some witnesses were "uncomfortable" with him watching their testimony. So there was some back and forth about if he could be in the courtroom.
The guy is mildly obnoxious -- certainly not close to be as obnoxious as I was as a teen, writing letters to every boxing magazine on Rubin's case. But aren't, at the very least, 50% of journalist obnoxious? This past Sunday night, a group of relatives of the cops this fellow thinks are involved in a cover-up confronted the guy and his girlfriend after they simply had a meal in an establishment in that community. Two of those people were charged with hitting the guy. Crazy!
I admire the guy's tenacity.
Martin Eden
(13,176 posts)But necessary for accountabilty of public servants.
To discourage or punish legitimate scrutiny indicates there is indeed something to hide.
H2O Man
(74,696 posts)used to say that placing a spotlight on a case was the best antiseptic for preventing injustice.